Why don't libertarians join the Tea Party?

[yinyang]

Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's Nominee for President this year, on marijuana legalization:


Johnson: I completely agree. In 1999, I said, “Let’s legalize marijuana, let’s adopt harm reduction.” Would the world be better off tomorrow if drugs were legalized? Absolutely. Ninety percent of the drug problem is prohibition-related, not use-related. That’s not to discount the problems with use and abuse, but that ought to be the focus.

Raw Story: Where do you think we’re headed as a country on drug policy?

Johnson: I think we’re at a tipping point on marijuana. I think we’re going to legalize it. I think Colorado is going to lead the charge. I think they’re going to vote yes this fall. I think that’s going to be the first to 50 state dominos that fall. As you point out, 50 percent of Americans now support legalizing marijuana. Why is the number so high? It’s because people are talking about it, and yet no politicians are talking about it. None. Zero. And there are a handful now that are, but… let’s see, why did I get elected? Why did I run for office? To be a leader?

 

[whitehall]

I checked the Libertarian 2012 platform ratified in Vegas and it seems to advocate the rights we enjoy today courtesy of the Bill of Rights. It's interesting that the Libertarian platform rejects government licensing of human relationships so I guess sissie marriage is off the table. Nowhere does the Libertarian platform advocate the legalization of marijuana but I guess the pot heads see the fantasy of a Libertarian election as a open door for drug use. Say it you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that the only agenda on the libertarian platform is drug use and see how many votes you get.

From The Libertarian Platform
1.2 Personal Privacy

Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes



1.3 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

It seems that Libertarians advocate a strict adherence to the US Constitution. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships (except when a libertarian abandons his pregnant wife?) Abortion seems to be a sticky issue and republicans agree that abortion should be legal but rare. What's left? Selling marijuana to our kids? I doubt if Ron Paul even knows what the libertarian radicals see in their pipe dreams. Make it a National issue you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that you want to sell marijuana to their kids and see how long the modern incarnation of the libertarian party lasts. The real libertarian Constitutionalists need to stop wasting their votes in order to feed a druggie pipe dream and support the Tea Party.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

I checked the Libertarian 2012 platform ratified in Vegas and it seems to advocate the rights we enjoy today courtesy of the Bill of Rights. It's interesting that the Libertarian platform rejects government licensing of human relationships so I guess sissie marriage is off the table. Nowhere does the Libertarian platform advocate the legalization of marijuana but I guess the pot heads see the fantasy of a Libertarian election as a open door for drug use. Say it you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that the only agenda on the libertarian platform is drug use and see how many votes you get.

From The Libertarian Platform
1.2 Personal Privacy

Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes



1.3 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

It seems that Libertarians advocate a strict adherence to the US Constitution. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships (except when a libertarian abandons his pregnant wife?) Abortion seems to be a sticky issue and republicans agree that abortion should be legal but rare. What's left? Selling marijuana to our kids? I doubt if Ron Paul even knows what the libertarian radicals see in their pipe dreams. Make it a National issue you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that you want to sell marijuana to their kids and see how long the modern incarnation of the libertarian party lasts. The real libertarian Constitutionalists need to stop wasting their votes in order to feed a druggie pipe dream and support the Tea Party.

Can you clue us into the difference between the fake libertarian radicals, and the real libertarian constitutionalists? I know you've studied the topic of libertarianism extensively.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

It's almost a political axiom that socialist politicians find a home in the democrat party and libertarians find a home in the republican party. Libertarians claim that the republican party isn't conservative enough and so does the Tea Party. There is no Tea Party ballot and libertarians have to know that it is a wasted vote to run as a libertarian so why not join up and try to remake the only party that is worth remaking instead of jousting at windmills?

Libertarians are more socially liberal.

Conservatives aren't.

Are all libertarians focused on sissie marriage, condoms for coeds and killin the unborn to avoid responsibility? I thought it was about the Constitution.

Privacy, due process, and equal protection rights are about the Constitution.

Constitutional cluelessness is something libertarians and conservatives have in common.

 

[yinyang]

I checked the Libertarian 2012 platform ratified in Vegas and it seems to advocate the rights we enjoy today courtesy of the Bill of Rights. It's interesting that the Libertarian platform rejects government licensing of human relationships so I guess sissie marriage is off the table. Nowhere does the Libertarian platform advocate the legalization of marijuana but I guess the pot heads see the fantasy of a Libertarian election as a open door for drug use. Say it you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that the only agenda on the libertarian platform is drug use and see how many votes you get.

From The Libertarian Platform
1.2 Personal Privacy

Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes



1.3 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

It seems that Libertarians advocate a strict adherence to the US Constitution. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships (except when a libertarian abandons his pregnant wife?) Abortion seems to be a sticky issue and republicans agree that abortion should be legal but rare. What's left? Selling marijuana to our kids? I doubt if Ron Paul even knows what the libertarian radicals see in their pipe dreams. Make it a National issue you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that you want to sell marijuana to their kids and see how long the modern incarnation of the libertarian party lasts. The real libertarian Constitutionalists need to stop wasting their votes in order to feed a druggie pipe dream and support the Tea Party.

Aside from a whole host of differences on social issues, Libertarians tend to HATE the foreign policy opinions of Conservatives. If the Tea Party is for a drastic (around 50%) reduction in military spending, the abolishment of the Department of Homeland Security, the repeal of the Patriot Act, a drastic reduction of nuclear weapons, the withdrawal of all US military personnel stationed abroad, then maybe the Tea Party and Libertarians have some common ground there. I doubt it. Most Libertarians I know consider the foreign policies of both the Republican and Democratic Parties to be full of war mongering and imperialism.

 

[whitehall]

From The Libertarian Platform
1.2 Personal Privacy

Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes



1.3 Personal Relationships

Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

It seems that Libertarians advocate a strict adherence to the US Constitution. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships (except when a libertarian abandons his pregnant wife?) Abortion seems to be a sticky issue and republicans agree that abortion should be legal but rare. What's left? Selling marijuana to our kids? I doubt if Ron Paul even knows what the libertarian radicals see in their pipe dreams. Make it a National issue you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that you want to sell marijuana to their kids and see how long the modern incarnation of the libertarian party lasts. The real libertarian Constitutionalists need to stop wasting their votes in order to feed a druggie pipe dream and support the Tea Party.

Can you clue us into the difference between the fake libertarian radicals, and the real libertarian constitutionalists? I know you've studied the topic of libertarianism extensively.

I can't tell the difference but if the Libertarian party was more honest about their agenda and the presidential candidate wasn't such an old idealist fool we might separate the fakes from the real Constitutionalists.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

It seems that Libertarians advocate a strict adherence to the US Constitution. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships (except when a libertarian abandons his pregnant wife?) Abortion seems to be a sticky issue and republicans agree that abortion should be legal but rare. What's left? Selling marijuana to our kids? I doubt if Ron Paul even knows what the libertarian radicals see in their pipe dreams. Make it a National issue you freaking cowards. Tell Americans that you want to sell marijuana to their kids and see how long the modern incarnation of the libertarian party lasts. The real libertarian Constitutionalists need to stop wasting their votes in order to feed a druggie pipe dream and support the Tea Party.

Can you clue us into the difference between the fake libertarian radicals, and the real libertarian constitutionalists? I know you've studied the topic of libertarianism extensively.

I can't tell the difference but if the Libertarian party was more honest about their agenda and the presidential candidate wasn't such an old idealist fool we might separate the fakes from the real Constitutionalists.

Oh, so you have no idea what you're talking about, in other words.

 

[uscitizen]

It's almost a political axiom that socialist politicians find a home in the democrat party and libertarians find a home in the republican party. Libertarians claim that the republican party isn't conservative enough and so does the Tea Party. There is no Tea Party ballot and libertarians have to know that it is a wasted vote to run as a libertarian so why not join up and try to remake the only party that is worth remaking instead of jousting at windmills?

The Tea Party's members are just republicans and no more conservative than any other republican.

 

[whitehall]

Can you clue us into the difference between the fake libertarian radicals, and the real libertarian constitutionalists? I know you've studied the topic of libertarianism extensively.

I can't tell the difference but if the Libertarian party was more honest about their agenda and the presidential candidate wasn't such an old idealist fool we might separate the fakes from the real Constitutionalists.

Oh, so you have no idea what you're talking about, in other words.

"In other words" seems to say it all. I like the Libertarian concept but I think it has been hijacked by radical druggies. I have no way to separate the druggie agenda from Constitutionalist libertarians. Nobody does. Go radical if you want, the 1st Amendment gives you the right, but quit hiding behind an old idealist (nut case?).

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

I can't tell the difference but if the Libertarian party was more honest about their agenda and the presidential candidate wasn't such an old idealist fool we might separate the fakes from the real Constitutionalists.

Oh, so you have no idea what you're talking about, in other words.

"In other words" seems to say it all. I like the Libertarian concept but I think it has been hijacked by radical druggies. I have no way to separate the druggie agenda from Constitutionalist libertarians. Nobody does. Go radical if you want, the 1st Amendment gives you the right, but quit hiding behind an old idealist (nut case?).

And where does the Constitution forbid people from using drugs?

 

[whitehall]

Oh, so you have no idea what you're talking about, in other words.

"In other words" seems to say it all. I like the Libertarian concept but I think it has been hijacked by radical druggies. I have no way to separate the druggie agenda from Constitutionalist libertarians. Nobody does. Go radical if you want, the 1st Amendment gives you the right, but quit hiding behind an old idealist (nut case?).

And where does the Constitution forbid people from using drugs?

Important point. The Constitution does not forbid people from using drugs. I know it and you know it. Too bad you phony libertarians are just too dishonest to let Americans know what your agenda really is. Tell us about it you sleazy cowards. Tell us that you are using a decent man who wouldn't dream of using drugs as a front. Be honest and I can tell you your phony agenda will shrivel to nothing while real Constitutionalists join the Tea Party.

 

[AmyNation]

I pointed this out on a couple of other threads. Romney gained significant ground on Obama when he shifted his campaign to being less far right and more to the center. His climb in the polls verify what I'm pointing out.
The GOP needs to move towards the center, somewhere closer to where Ronald Reagan stood. In todays GOP, Reagan's position would be associated as being a RINO.
A majority of Americans aren't far right, nor are they far left, they are in the middle. GOP, get a clue, re-invent yourself and appeal to a much larger base.

Some republicans would rather see their party die off, rather than to compromise and bring in new blood.

At this point, I'm honestly wondering if the better bet is that the GOP will break up into two groups, the socially conservative and the fiscally conservative.

 

[AmyNation]

I pointed this out on a couple of other threads. Romney gained significant ground on Obama when he shifted his campaign to being less far right and more to the center. His climb in the polls verify what I'm pointing out.
The GOP needs to move towards the center, somewhere closer to where Ronald Reagan stood. In todays GOP, Reagan's position would be associated as being a RINO.
A majority of Americans aren't far right, nor are they far left, they are in the middle. GOP, get a clue, re-invent yourself and appeal to a much larger base.

McCain and Romney were attempts to go to the center. They both got crushed.

They moved to the center on the wrong issues.

 

[whitehall]

I'm not anti-libertarian. In fact I always thought libertarians were just a hair to the right of conservative republicans. Hell, most prominent libertards were republicans and I could never figure out why the libertards abandoned the republican party and actually purposely syphoned votes from a popular republican when they had no chance of winning. Is it really about drugs? I think that's just camouflage. I think the Libertards have been hijacked by the dirty tricksters.

 

[yinyang]

"In other words" seems to say it all. I like the Libertarian concept but I think it has been hijacked by radical druggies. I have no way to separate the druggie agenda from Constitutionalist libertarians. Nobody does. Go radical if you want, the 1st Amendment gives you the right, but quit hiding behind an old idealist (nut case?).

And where does the Constitution forbid people from using drugs?

Important point. The Constitution does not forbid people from using drugs. I know it and you know it. Too bad you phony libertarians are just too dishonest to let Americans know what your agenda really is. Tell us about it you sleazy cowards. Tell us that you are using a decent man who wouldn't dream of using drugs as a front. Be honest and I can tell you your phony agenda will shrivel to nothing while real Constitutionalists join the Tea Party.

You are making an absolutely bizarre argument. "Will shrivel to nothing?" The Libertarian Party isn't exactly a major party. There are no members of the Libertarian Party in the house or the senate. Their Presidential Nominee got about one percent of the vote nationally. There are very few Libertarian politicians in the Republican Party, one of whom (Ron Paul) just retired his seat. So what is their "phony agenda"? Why would someone who dreams of legalizing drugs use the Libertarian Party to bring that about? Why wouldn't a person whose sole agenda is drug legalization chose to infiltrate a major party to try to get that done? Why would someone chose to use a very fringe party as a front for some nefarious drug legalization ploy?

It's funny that you are focusing solely on the fact that Libertarians want drugs legalized. They also want legalization of gambling, prostitution and the removal of obscenity laws regarding pornography. They want to do away with all restrictions on people's personal lives that don't harm others. And they want an extreme decrease in the size and scope of the military. And many want a COMPLETE removal of all entitlements, including Medicare and Social Security. But I guess it's all just a lie to get drugs legalized.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

"In other words" seems to say it all. I like the Libertarian concept but I think it has been hijacked by radical druggies. I have no way to separate the druggie agenda from Constitutionalist libertarians. Nobody does. Go radical if you want, the 1st Amendment gives you the right, but quit hiding behind an old idealist (nut case?).

And where does the Constitution forbid people from using drugs?

Important point. The Constitution does not forbid people from using drugs. I know it and you know it. Too bad you phony libertarians are just too dishonest to let Americans know what your agenda really is. Tell us about it you sleazy cowards. Tell us that you are using a decent man who wouldn't dream of using drugs as a front. Be honest and I can tell you your phony agenda will shrivel to nothing while real Constitutionalists join the Tea Party.

You're all over the map here.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

I pointed this out on a couple of other threads. Romney gained significant ground on Obama when he shifted his campaign to being less far right and more to the center. His climb in the polls verify what I'm pointing out.
The GOP needs to move towards the center, somewhere closer to where Ronald Reagan stood. In todays GOP, Reagan's position would be associated as being a RINO.
A majority of Americans aren't far right, nor are they far left, they are in the middle. GOP, get a clue, re-invent yourself and appeal to a much larger base.

McCain and Romney were attempts to go to the center. They both got crushed.

They moved to the center on the wrong issues.

No, they were in the center to begin with. What they did was run to the right during their primaries, and because everybody knew they were frauds they were soundly rejected in the general election. Now, to be fair, in 2008 I don't care who the Republican nominee was, they were going to lose. However, if 1996, 2008, and 2012 show us anything, it's that the Republican that the media is pushing as "electable," probably isn't.

Regardless, the Republican Party doesn't need to move to the mythical "center." What they need to do is look to the wing of the party that is actually growing, that would be the libertarian wing, and realize that the old warmongering, corporatist, nanny-state politics are no longer winners on the national stage. What is getting people excited? Peace, free markets, and the idea that government just needs to go away.

 

[yinyang]

I'm not anti-libertarian. In fact I always thought libertarians were just a hair to the right of conservative republicans. Hell, most prominent libertards were republicans and I could never figure out why the libertards abandoned the republican party and actually purposely syphoned votes from a popular republican when they had no chance of winning. Is it really about drugs? I think that's just camouflage. I think the Libertards have been hijacked by the dirty tricksters.

Libertarians are only to the right of Conservatives on Economic issues. They have always been to the left of Conservatives on Social and Foreign Policy. Barry Goldwater, the Republican Presidential nominee of 1964, was essentially a Libertarian-ish guy except for the fact that he believed in a strong national defense. This is what he had to say about the religous right:

"The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C" and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism.""

As this quote shows, Libertarians haven't been recently "hijacked" by "dirty tricksters." They've always been at odds with Conservatives on a number of social and foreign policies. If they weren't, they wouldn't be called Libertarians, they'd be called Conservatives.

 

[Kevin_Kennedy]

I'm not anti-libertarian. In fact I always thought libertarians were just a hair to the right of conservative republicans. Hell, most prominent libertards were republicans and I could never figure out why the libertards abandoned the republican party and actually purposely syphoned votes from a popular republican when they had no chance of winning. Is it really about drugs? I think that's just camouflage. I think the Libertards have been hijacked by the dirty tricksters.

I think somebody's projecting on the issue of drugs.

 

[TakeAStepBack]

Why don't libertarians join the Tea Party?

We started it and you half-wits hijacked it...both times. get a clue.